The Secret Garden Chronicles Day 15-Every Good Gift Is From Above

Today was the day for our "Lovely Ladies of the Lord" Prayer Fellowship to meet for prayer, fellowship and sharing God's Word, followed by lunch!  I didn't make it out to the Secret Garden today because the Lord had other plans for me!  Meeting with these "Joyful" ladies is like a breath of fresh air and a beautiful gift from God...and surely the Lord was present with us in this place...

To start out on a light note...taking this picture was quite a "joyful" experience!  At the Mill Creek Baptist Church, where we met for our prayer and Bible study time, there is this beautiful display of the word JOY on their front stage area in the sanctuary.  They originally put it up for Christmas, but it is so lovely...and "joyful", that they haven't wanted to take it down yet.  So we felt it would be the perfect backdrop for our group photo.  The reason I am sitting down in front looking all out of breath is because we were trying to take this picture using my delayed timing feature on my camera...and it took several "takes" before we actually got the timing right and I was able to get into place before the camera snapped the photo.  I won't post all the photos that didn't quite make it...trust me, this is the best!

We were in a very joyful and spiritually blessed frame of mind when we took this picture.  Our "meeting" today started out gathered around the piano/prayer bench, with a time of fervent prayer and anointing with oil (according to James 5:13-16) of one of our dear ladies who is scheduled for some surgery next week.

James 5:13-16

13.  "Is anyone among you suffering? 

Let him (her) pray.

Is anyone cheerful?

Let him (her) sing psalms.

14.  Is anyone among you sick?

Let him call for the elders of the church,

and let them pray over him (her), anointing him (her)

with oil in the name of the Lord.

15.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick,

and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins,

he will be forgiven.

16.  Confess your trespasses to one another,

and pray for one another,

that you may be healed.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (woman)

avails much."

Another scripture that we shared with each other was Matthew 18:19-20 ~ The Words of Jesus Christ:

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning 

anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together in My Name,

I Am there in the midst of them."

After this time of prayer for our sister in the Lord, we also lifted up several others who are in serious need of healing and prayer at this time...one dear friend in particular who has been (and still is) in a hospital for several months and who needs the healing hands of Jesus to touch her body, soul and spirit. Following this time of prayer, we joined together in singing this beautiful song, which was new to most of us, but Oh! What a powerful and precious message!  I have linked a video of The Perrys singing this song for you.   You may want to watch the video and sing along here...and I believe you will also be blessed by this song of great faith and encouragement:

Click HERE for "By Faith I Can Touch Him Now" by The Perrys

One day I will stand in the presence of Jesus 

and I'll see the Lord face to face 

With my very eyes, I'll witness his Glory 

when I finally finish my race 

But the burdens of life sometimes get so heavy 

that I need to touch Him somehow 

But I don't have to wait until I get to Heaven 

By faith I can touch Him now. 

I can reach out and touch the hem of His garment 

I know he will make me whole 

For He's passing by this very moment 

Can you feel the virtue that flows 

Someday I will walk through the gates of that city 

By grace I will make it somehow 

But I don't have to wait until I get to Heaven 

By faith I can touch Him now. 

I will fall at His feet in the presence of angels 

and millions of saints around the throne 

I'll worship the Lord and sing hallelujah 

without all the trouble I've known 

Then I'll see those hands that lifted my burdens 

and I'll see those scars on his brow 

But I don't have to wait until I get to Heaven 

By faith I can touch Him now. 

Following this time of prayer, praise and worship, we shared further scriptures with each other...especially from James 1:17-25.  Verse 17 says:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and comes down from the Father of lights,

with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning..."

Also these words of exhortation:

verse 19-20:  "So then, my beloved brethren (sisters),

let every man (woman) be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath...

For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

Verse 22:  "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only,

deceiving yourselves."

These lessons in God's Word helped us to see that we need to be quick to listen to God's Word, and then to put into practice that which we are being taught as we listen and learn.

Following this we headed out for a new (to most of us) restaurant in a neighboring community.

We found Ivie's Country Cafe in Orange Springs to be a delightful little place with good food and a comfy, country atmosphere typical of our life out here in the "woods".  

I love that they proudly displayed our American flag along with the pictures of some of the wildlife from the forest.

And our waitress took a moment from her busy schedule to take our picture at the table before we left.  We had a great time, and will definitely be back to this place again... ( we don't have a lot of choices out in the woods where we live without having to travel a long distance...so we appreciate our few local cafe's)

I hope you enjoyed coming along with us on this prayer-filled, joyful journey today!    This would definitely be a good example of a "good gift and perfect gift from above, from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."   The gift of Godly fellowship and praying  sisters in Christ is a very good gift indeed!

In One Accord

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."  

Acts 2:1

I am feeling way behind in my reading of other friends' blogs...as well as writing my own.  It's been a busy month already, and we are only 1/2 way through.  Nothing especially special...just not much free time for me.  So I am feeling rather disconnected...from communication with the wonderful ladies I so enjoy who write such inspirational and deeply touching blogs...and from pouring out from my own soul the things God has laid upon my heart to share with you.

This past week I met with a small group of ladies from our neighboring communities who meet monthly for the express purpose of praying and sharing together from God's Word in one accord.  We don't have a set agenda or planned program, but usually one of the ladies leads with some scripture verses that the Lord has laid on her heart to share...and then it is beautiful to watch how God brings it all together as we each share what God has been teaching us in our own personal walk.  We share prayer concerns and encourage one another as the Holy Spirit ministers through us to one another. Some share a song or a Psalm.  Others may bring a poem or other devotional that spoke to them. It is the truest picture of being in one accord if ever I've seen such a thing before.  

I always come away from this informal, loving, Christ centered time of fellowship with a feeling of being on hallowed ground. Why? Because the Presence of the Living God was there...not so much in a "rushing mighty wind" (Acts 2:2), but more in a "still small voice" (I Kings 19:12)...a cooling, calming Spirit that permeated our souls as we lifted the Name of God on High in our prayers and praises...and penetrated our hearts and minds and bodies with His loving breath of life.  How is this possible?  Jesus said in Matthew 18:20:

"For where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there in the midst of them."

Oftentimes I feel this same connection of being "in one accord" with my friends here in blogland.  There is a sweet spirit that permeates our communication that transcends time and space. Many/most of us have never met in person, and yet our spirits a drawn to one another in Christian love as we encourage one another through our comments and written posts.  It is a beautiful picture of Christ being in our midst even across many miles and possibly continents.  The Body of Christ is a marvelous thing, isn't it?  Someday we will be all together "in one accord" forever in heaven...but until then we will keep lifting each other up in words of hope and love and encouragement in our faith walk.

I promise to try to do better in the future in keeping up with you...and I thank you for keeping up with me as well. You are each a blessing to me as you share your spiritual gifts through your blog posts.

The above is a video from our prayer group...one of our ladies shared a song with us from her heart...and with a very beautiful gifted voice.  Please enjoy in the spirit of which it has been shared here.

More Clues...if you need them...

Last week's post left a few clues here... 

I mentioned last week that this little table was built by my husband's maternal grandfather, and was used for something very special in their home throughout the years.  My Mother-in-law, who is now 91 years old, has been spending her days between my brother-in-law's home and ours.  She has been with us for several weekends lately, and has shared her memories with us regarding the use of this little table in the home in which she grew up.


Today's clues are pretty revealing I think...

My husband's grandparents were members of a Bible fellowship known as the "Plymouth Brethren", which met in their home, and had a traveling evangelist come periodically to share God's Word and serve Holy Communion.  It was a time of true Christian worship, fellowship, and prayer, much like the very first church described in the 2nd Chapter of Acts...

"And they continued steadfastly 

in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,

in the

BREAKING OF BREAD,

and in PRAYERS.

Then fear came upon every soul, 

and many wonders and signs were done

through the apostles.

Now all who believed were together,

and had all things in common,

and sold their possessions and goods,

and divided them among all,

as anyone had need.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple,

and

BREAKING BREAD FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE,

they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

PRAISING GOD AND HAVING FAVOR WITH ALL THE PEOPLE.

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

Acts 2:42-47

My husband has some very early memories of that precious time of fellowship with his mother and grandparents when he was a young child.  The influence of those Godly men and women who came to their home was very powerful, and helped plant the seeds in my husband's heart that later blossomed into the Call to serve God and to preach the Word...which he did faithfully for many years.

I am not sure just exactly what God is planning to do in our home at this time...but I will tell you this much, that which Jesus taught His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew 18:18-20...

"Assuredly, I say to you, that whatever you bind on earth 

will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again I say to you that 

if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,

it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together

IN MY NAME,

I AM there in the midst of them."

This little table has come full circle... 

It is now a part of our home, and the blessing which was bestowed upon it so many years ago in the home of my husband's grandparents is being continued in our home.

All the clues are not complete yet, but we are walking day by day in faith,

trusting God to lead us and show us His plans.  This is just the continuation of the work that He began so many years ago... like over 2000 years ago!

Again, I say, Stay tuned for further developments...

and keep praying! God is at work in our midst.

I'd like to close this particular post today with the words to the song that we sang together this morning here in our home as we gathered together to worship the Lord...I found this song very comforting in light of the things that are happening in our world and nation today. Perhaps you will appreciate them also:

"O soul, are you weary and troubled? 

No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Chorus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

Over us sin no more hath dominion--

For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you-He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace."

Written by: Helen H. Lemmel, 1922